President John Dramani Mahama has called on religious leaders and their followers to exercise restraint, warning that recent tensions involving a pastor and an imam must not threaten Ghana’s long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths.
Speaking at the opening of the 32nd Biennial General Council Meeting of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, at Gomoa Fetteh on Thursday, August 20, 2026, President Mahama described the recent developments involving the two religious figures as deeply unfortunate.
The incidents, which followed comments attributed to the pastor and imam and subsequent reports of physical assaults, have raised concerns about growing tensions between religious communities.
President Mahama said the situation should remind Ghanaians that the country’s religious tolerance must not be taken for granted.
“Such incidents must never be allowed to define relations between Christians and other religions in this country,” he said.
He noted that Christians, Muslims and followers of other faiths have lived peacefully together for generations, sharing families, schools, workplaces, security services and public institutions.
According to him, this peaceful coexistence is one of Ghana’s greatest national assets and must be protected.
The President stressed that while the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and the right to express one’s faith, those freedoms do not give anyone the right to insult another person’s beliefs, incite violence or take the law into their own hands.
“Religious conviction must never become religious provocation,” he said, warning that disagreements should never escalate into hatred, intimidation or assault.
“No one honours God by assaulting another person. No one defends the Almighty God by threatening or attacking another human being. God does not need violence committed in His name.”
President Mahama urged pastors, imams and other religious leaders to be particularly responsible in their public statements and on social media, noting that careless comments can spread quickly and inflame tensions far beyond what the speaker may have intended.
He said religious leaders, including the National Chief Imam and others, would be expected to help promote reconciliation and find a peaceful resolution to the matter involving the individuals concerned.
At the same time, he stressed that the law must be allowed to take its course fairly and impartially.
President Mahama also called for greater efforts to teach the younger generation that religious diversity is not a weakness but a strength, provided it is built on mutual respect and understanding.
As the Assemblies of God, Ghana, deliberates on the future of the Church, the President encouraged the denomination to remain committed to prayer, evangelism and goodwill.
He urged the Church to turn its faith into practical action by promoting peace, supporting vulnerable people and contributing to national development.
President Mahama congratulated the Assemblies of God, Ghana, on the organisation of its 32nd Biennial General Council Meeting and expressed confidence that the gathering would help strengthen the Church’s contribution to Ghana’s development and social harmony.
